Page 2672 - Politics
Sena MP Sanjay Raut meets UP CM over Uddhav's proposed Ayodhya
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut Monday met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow ahead of the proposed visit of party president Uddhav Thackeray to Ayodhya. Thackeray had announced in his party's Vijayadashmi rally in Mumbai last week that he would visit Ayodhya on November 25 and "question" Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the temple construction issue. Raut tweeted his photo with the UP CM and said the latter has welcomed Thackeray's visit to the temple town. The Sena, a ruling constituent in the BJP-led governments in Maharashtra and Centre, had accused the BJP of delaying construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.
Taliban defeated, their ideas rejected: Abdullah Abdullah
Afghanistan's National Unity Government's CEO Abdullah Abdullah said on Monday that Taliban's thoughts and ideas have been rejected, as people came out to vote for Saturday's parliamentary elections despite threats by the group.The CEO stated, "The Taliban wanted to build a bloodstream, but the Taliban were defeated and the Taliban's thoughts and ideas were rejected," according to TOLOnews."Our old men and females, youths and their enthusiasm, standing in line to vote, all that shows that people do not want Taliban ideology, but the Afghan people want a system based on the people's vote, and in fact, we have witnessed a historical moment," further claimed Abdullah, who also stated that the Afghans have proved that they reject the sound of violence, terror and the return to the dark days of the past.Meanwhile, he also outlined that there were lapses during Saturday's polls. Referring to the Independent Election Commission (IEC), he said, "The people's demand from these commissions is ..
CEC-led team reviews poll preparedness in Telangana
Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat along with his team on Monday visited poll-bound Telangana, to review poll preparedness for upcoming Assembly Elections in the state.The Election Commission of India (ECI) team held a meeting with recognised political parties in Telangana. Each political party was given 10 minutes to represent their party voice on the preparations for upcoming elections.Most of the political parties mainly suggested the commission to look after the voters list, where names of thousands of voters have been repeated. They also urged the CEC and his team to look into the matter where a huge amount of money and liquor is being used to tamper the electoral process.The ECI member also held a review meeting with police Nodal officers.Telangana is scheduled to go to polls on 7th December. Counting of votes will be done on December 11.
'Punjab govt covering up Amritsar Train Tragedy'
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday launched a scathing attack on Congress-led Punjab government and said that they are on mission to cover-up the Amritsar train accident.Badal said, "Congress senior leaders including ministers are involved in this case. With the attitude of the government, it looks like they are on a mission to cover-up. There is no remorse, no regret and no seriousness in Punjab Government."He also outlined Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh's visit to Israel and termed it as unfortunate."Such big unfortunate state had happened in the state and CM has gone abroad to Tel Aviv which shows their seriousness. Senior leaders who organised the event ran away immediately after the accident, rather than helping people. It is very unfortunate," he said.Badal also criticised Punjab government for not registering a case against any named individual in connection with Amritsar train accident and said, "The whole case looks like a ...
USA in "fact-finding stage": Kushner on Khashoggi
Senior advisor to Donald Trump, Jared Kushner has said that the Trump administration is still in the "fact-finding phase" regarding journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death."Right now as an administration we're more in the fact finding phase," Kushner told CNN at a conference held here on Monday (local time).The advisor, who is also US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, said, "We're getting as many facts as we can, then we'll determine which facts are credible."He further outlined that it is imperative to maintain the US-Saudi relationship. "We have to be able to work with our allies and Saudi Arabia has I think been a very strong ally in terms of pushing back on Iran's aggression," he added.Kushner also stated that the USA was dealing with Saudi Arabia's explanation behind the scribe's death with "their eyes wide open"."I think the president is focused on what's good for America-what are our strategic interests, where do we share interests with other countries, let's work toward those," .
Pak PM's tweet on Kashmir 'deeply regrettable': MEA
India on Monday strongly condemned Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's tweet, where he accused Indian security forces of allegedly killing innocent Kashmiris.In response to a media query regarding Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan tweet, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that instead of making comments on India's internal affairs, Pakistan Prime Minsiter should look inwards and address its own issues."The remarks made by Pakistan's Prime Minister in his tweet today are deeply regrettable. Instead of making comments on India's internal affairs, Pakistan leadership should look inwards and address its own issues. Pakistan would serve the interest of the people of the region by taking credible action against all kind of support to terrorism and terror infrastructure from all territories under its control rather than supporting and glorifying terrorists and terror activities against India and its other neighbours. Pakistan's deceitful stand on ...
Judiciary, military should stop oppressive policies against oppressed in Pakistan: Altaf Hussain
Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) founder leader Altaf Hussain has said that Pakistan's judiciary and military establishment should treat all citizens especially the oppressed alike and should discard the policy of crushing and eliminating them.Hussain also remarked that, unfortunately, there are courts in the country sans spirit of justice and hence the courts without the spirit of dispensing justice should be removed as these have no meanings or purpose of existence.He made these remarks in his weekly address that was spread to the corners of the globe through the social media means and was watched and heard live by millions of his followers.He said that the new generation in Pakistan is unaware of their heritage particularly their ancestors who played a pivotal role in conceiving the country."The new generation hardly knows now about their legends such as Sir Syed Ahmed khan, Maulana Hasrat Mohani, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Maulana Shaukat Ali Jauhar, Nizam of Hyderabad, Raja ...
BJP minister Subhash Deshmukh duped state of Rs 24 cr: Nirupam
Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam Monday accused Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Subhash Deshmukh of fraudulently withdrawing government funds for a milk plant and duping the state exchequer of Rs 24 crore. Nirupam shared documents related to the organisations in Solapur which he said are controlled by the minister. "Subhash Deshmukh got a sanction worth Rs 24.81 crore from the Ministry of Agriculture under the National Agricultural Department Programme (NAFD). "This amount was sanctioned to the minister in the name of establishing a milk chilling and milk powder manufacturing plant in Solapur," alleged the Mumbai Congress chief. Deshmukh was not available for comments. He said Deshmukh and his son Rohan withdrew funds in phases on behalf of their firm Lokmangal Multi-stage Cooperative Society Ltd. "They withdrew Rs 2 crore in the first phase and Rs 3 crore in the second phase,"Nirupam claimed. The Congress leader also alleged that Deshmukh had submitted "forged and ...
Siemens CEO Kaeser says he will not attend Saudi investment conference
BERLIN (Reuters) - Siemens's chief executive said on Monday he would not attend a three-day Future Investment Initiative conference in Saudi Arabia after the country admitted that journalist Jamal Khashoggi had been killed in its consulate in Istanbul.
Pakistan PM's remarks regrettable: India
India on Monday described as "deeply regrettable" Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's remarks on Twitter in which he condemned "the new cycle of killings of innocent Kashmiris" in Jammu and Kahsmir.
Delhi fuel pump strike is BJP sponsored, says AAP leader
Senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh Monday said here that the fuel pump strike in Delhi was "BJP sponsored" as the prices of petrol in Delhi are less compared to other cities. He was replying to a query on the strike in Delhi and the AAP government's refusal to cut VAT on petrol and diesel there. "The price of petrol in Mumbai is around Rs 87 and in Chennai it is Rs 84. Whereas, the price of petrol in Delhi is around Rs 81. This is a BJP sponsored strike," he asked. The 400-odd petrol pumps and CNG dispensing units in the national capital remained shut Monday in protest against the Delhi government's refusal to reduce VAT on fuels.
Prashant Kishor interacts with JD(U) activists
Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, who is on his maiden tour of Bihar after his appointment as the national vice-president of JD(U), Monday interacted with hundreds of young party activists here. The party meeting was held at 7, Circular Road adjacent to the official residence of the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is the JD(U)s national president where Kishor listened to feedbacks from young men and women about the partys ground-level situation and offered them tips in return. According to party sources, Kishor who had joined the JD(U) only last month sought to underscore before the party cadres that unlike other political parties, theirs was not a family-driven one and youngsters with talent and ambition could aspire to reach the top. Kishor, who hails from a non-political family, cited his own example besides those of a number of other leaders in the party who were said to have been given preference over more conventional candidates in the last Lok
British MPs condemn 'vitriolic' Brexit attacks on PM Theresa May
Britain's politicians from across party lines on Monday condemned the increasingly "vitriolic" attacks on Prime Minister Theresa May over her Brexit strategy. Many MPs expressed their anger over the very personal nature of the abuse by Brexiteers unhappy with the ongoing negotiations with the European Union (EU) within her own Conservative Party. Over the weekend, a number of unnamed MPs were quoted in the media as saying that the British PM was set to be "knifed" over her failure to clinch a Brexit deal and would be "entering the killing zone" this week. "This morning I've seen quotes from Tories to the effect that PM is 'entering the killing zone', faces 'assassination' and should take 'her own noose' to a meeting. Few disagree with her more than I do, but language like this debases politics. Get a grip, Tories," tweeted Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister. Opposition Labour MP Yvette Cooper, chair of the influential Commons Home Affairs Committee, said the unnamed Tory ...
Form panel to probe Maoist link allegations against professor, JNU Executive Council recommends
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Executive Council has recommended the constitution of a fact-finding committee to look into the allegations against professor Archana Prasad that she engaged in activities linked to Maoists, said a member of the Executive Council. Two women professors Nandini Sundar from Delhi University and Archana Prasad from JNU along with Maoists and others were booked by police in connection with the killing of a tribal man in naxal-affected Sukma district of Chhattisgarh in 2016. Sources present at the EC meeting said two complaints were received against Prasad one in 2016 asking what action was taken against her by the varsity following the registration of the FIR, and another from an NGO recently claiming she was engaged in activities linked to Maoists. The vice-chancellor has been authorised to constitute the committee that will speak to Prasad and look into the allegations. "In light of complaints from villagers from Bastar against Professor Archana Prasad,
Parties intensify preparations for Telangana polls
Opposition Congress and its allies and the BJP intensified campaign and preparations Monday for the December 7 Telangana assembly elections. Senior Congress leader and former deputy chief minister in undivided Andhra Pradesh C Damodar Rajanarsimha held meetings with party leaders in Delhi. He said that SC, ST, and backward class leaders were invited for the meetings and that their winning chances and other election-related issues were discussed. The Congress has formed an alliance with parties, including TDP, CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) for the elections. TDP supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu held meetings with the party's Telangana unit members in Hyderabad Monday to take stock of the election preparations. As part of BJP's preparations, Union Minister J P Nadda, partys incharge for elections in Telangana, is scheduled to address a constituency-level meeting Tuesday. Meanwhile, ruling TRS MP B Vinod Kumar sought to counter the BJP ...
Election Commission team in Telangana to review poll preparedness
An Election Commission team arrived here on Monday on a three-day visit to review poll preparedness in Telangana.
Assam Bandh on Tuesday against JPC meeting over Citizenship Bill
At least 60 organisations, including the Congress, have called a 12-hour Assam bandh on Tuesday to protest against a meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee with the Ministries of Home and External Affairs over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016.
Kushner says US in 'fact-finding' phase in Khashoggi death probe
The US is still in a "fact-finding phase" about the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, President Donald Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner said Monday as he advised the Saudi regime to be fully transparent in the investigation of the Saudi dissident journalist's death. Khashoggi, 60, was brutally killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, according to Turkish investigative agencies, who claim to have audio files with them of the incident. "Right now, we're more in a fact-finding phase and we're obviously getting as many facts as we can from the different places and then we'll determine which facts are credible," Kushner told CNN in response to a question. After days of conflicting statements, Saudi Arabia last week said that Khashoggi died in a fist fight inside the consulate during an interrogation. The US has called for a detailed investigation into the killing of Khashoggi, who was an open critic of the current ruling establishment in Saudi ...
Cong, BJP raise with CEC 'discrepancies', 'bogus' voters in
Congress and BJP Monday raised the issue of alleged discrepancies and bogus voters in the Electoral Rolls in Telangana with Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat, who began a three-day visit to the state to review prepardeness for the December 7 assembly polls. At a meeting held by Rawat, who is heading a 11-member Election Commission team, with nine recognised political parties in the state, Congress claimed there were about 68 lakh 'discrepancies' in the rolls released on October 12. Senior Congress leader Marri Shashidhar Reddy, who attended the meeting, said he conveyed the party's stand to the EC team that the "discrepancies" should be removed. "I pointed out that there is a case pending in the high court on the issue. Now this becomes a court-monitored electoral roll. If the EC tries to go ahead and conduct polls on the basis of such flawed electoral rolls with full of discrepancies running into lakhs it will be the greatest disservice to democracy in this ..
Modi-Abe summit: Strengthening of defence, trade ties will top agenda, says Japanese envoy
Strengthening of ties in key areas of defence, trade and infrastructure will top the agenda when Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Japan next week, the country's envoy Kenji Hiramatsu said Monday. At an interaction at the Brookings India think tank, Kenji said talks are on between the two sides on strengthening maritime cooperation, including the signing of the Mutual Logistical Support Agreement. "We are also expecting to sign agreement between Indian Navy and Japan's Naval Defence Force with regard to maritime domain awareness and security issues. We would like more cooperation in this domain too," he said. Kenji said the two sides are hoping to start a formal negotiation process on the Mutual Logistical Support Agreement. "Also defence equipment and technology cooperation, we have agreed to have joint research activities with regard to unmanned vehicles and robotics," he said. The envoy, however, added that he cannot "predict what will ...